Dennis M Wall

"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass: it's about learning how to ride in the rain."  Dennis Morris Wall was not a fair-weather rider.  Born in the heart of winter in Cleveland, Utah on Jan. 20, 1938 to Morris Alva and (Martha) Laverna (Funk) Wall, Dennis knew how to ride in the rain, to weather the storms, and to come out stronger. Self-described as a man who enjoyed the outdoors, in his younger years he could be found putting rubber to the road and taking in life’s views from behind the bars of his motorcycle, the back of a horse or finding the perfect spot to camp, relax, and fish if there was a river nearby. He also spent a few summers during his teen years working in the fish packing canneries in Anchorage, Alaska.

Along life’s road, Dennis met the love of his life, Barbara Jean Seay. They married in the summer of 1957 and relocated to a rural area just outside Salt Lake City. Together they had five children, Deena (Donna) Jean, Cindy Leigh, Perry Dennis, Brett Franklin and Chad Anthony.

Dennis’ approach to “life is about experiences” did not waiver. Family vacations to Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Colorado, New Mexico and other places in the western US were commonplace with their tribe of five – all in the family station wagon. The family could also be found hitting the drive-in theater in the same vehicle on Saturday nights. Later, Dennis took up coaching his sons’ sports teams; Brett in baseball and Chad in soccer. He then went on to coaching an “Over 40” Women’s soccer team of which Barbara was a member.

Dennis spent a 40-year career in the beverage business, from soft drinks to coffee, which led to relocating his family to Renton, Wash., in 1976 where they finished raising their children.

Over the years, Dennis and Barbara were able to travel together to places like Singapore, Mexico, Alaska, parts of Canada and the Hawaiian islands. After Dennis retired, he and Barbara turned their eyes back to the road in a newly purchased RV and headed for places along the sun-belt where they met up with old friends, golfed and took in the sights of the warmer climate.

The lure of the sun ultimately drew them from Washington to Bullhead City, Ariz., in 2002 where they purchased a winter home complete with a swimming pool and a nearby golf course. Many wonderful family memories were made there when children and grandchildren came to visit. Dennis and Barbara’s devotion and love for their family was always their greatest joy.

They both ultimately returned to Washington in 2010. On June 3, 2019. Dennis concluded the last leg of his journey and reached his final destination. Those left to continue telling his jokes and sharing a glass of scotch in his name are his daughters Deena Carter of Roswell, NM; Cindy Wall (Jim Whipps) of Chelan, Wash., sons Perry Wall (Melody), Brett Wall (Misti), and Chad Wall (Michelle) all of Maple Valley, Wash., along with 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Those who took to unknown roads before him are his beloved wife Barbara Wall; brothers Melvin Ned Wall, Rolland Clark Wall, and sister LaJuana (Wall) Ockey.

One of the storms Dennis bravely faced was his battle with COPD and Emphysema. Considering that, the family requests that in lieu of flowers a memorial be made in Dennis’s name to the American Lung Association, 1200 Hosford Street, Suite 101 Hudson, WI 54016-9316 or via the web at www.lung.org.

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